Morning briefing in the EOC with IL USAR TaskForce-1.

Morning briefing in the EOC with the State of Illinois USAR TaskForce-1.

Special thanks to OTFPD Chief Ralph DeLucca on providing information on their response as well as their resources.

It is imperative that Emergency Managers continually learn about teams and resources from their jurisdictions. In crisis, there will be no time to forge these relationships. Your interactions will be judged on how seamless your operations and rollout goes.

Experience will show itself in seconds. In order to call the shots, you have to talk the talk and have to have walked the walk.

Trust me, people are watching.

And judging.

Reporting live from the EOC this morning….

@rusnivek

Morning briefing with FEMA #USAR IN-TF-1 #PA-TF-1 #CA

Starting my morning off with a quick briefing from the FEMA Indiana USAR big daddy….

Ladies and gents, put your hands together for the world famous WTFD Captain….FIRE MIKE!


MICHAEL PRUITT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, just glad to see a familiar face in the disaster.

@rusnivek

Surviving catastrophic flooding and key USAR numbers deployed

A few home safety tips on surviving catastrophic flooding.


Some key USAR facts (from this morning’s brief):

  • 6 type-1 FEMA USAR Task Force Teams deployed.
  • 8 type-3 FEMA USAR Task Force Teams deployed.
  • 13 Water Rescue Teams from FEMA USAR Teams deployed.
  • Over 900 USAR personnel working.

Stay safe out there.

@rusnivek

Ahhh another packed July!

Hello July! Is it really 3Q already?!?

First week I’ll be teaching another FEMA’s Basic PIO Course with JIC/JIS at WTFD. (How about them acronyms!)

Second week will be another ICS-400 course in the Emergency Operations Center

Along with another JIC/JIS course, third week will be spent at the COOP site. Wheeee.

Fourth week will include another PIO exercise specifically focusing in on social media. I’ll also need to confirm our 3Q PIO/PAO Training with NBC for our TaskForce.

Lots of planning meeting sprinkled into the mix and randomly working out of the COOP site will test operational readiness. Fun times.

@rusnivek

 

May we head into June 2017?

May is out like trout and June has come in with a slew of activities as well as the 2017 NBA Finals!

First week I’ll be in Missouri teaching my favorite class – Social Media Tools & Techniques and a functional social media exercise in Columbus. Yes I know, that means I won’t be attending the 2017 UASI Conference in Buffalo. #Boooo. However, my free time will be spent at Game-3 and Game-4 of the 2017 NBA Championships. #GoCavs!!!!!

Second week I will be teaching the FEMA EMI Incident Management Team Plans Section Chief Course in Cincinnati. With so many members from USAR Ohio Task Force-1 (including Schulmann) attending, it’s going to be a fun class. Are you attending?

Third week I think I got blessed with the approval to take the IMT Incident Commanders course at the home EOC in Columbus. Lemme see if I can login this time (Password “JOSHUA”).

Fourth week will be doing some tactical training including quals. #pewpew

Honestly, I just hope to stay afloat this month.

Additionally, June 2017 will serve as the foundation month for the 2018 training schedule. Who’s ready for more classes?!?!?!?

Get your learn on!

@rusnivek

 

Final day of the AH #IMT #Logistics Section Chief course w/ OH-TF-01

Day-5: Final day of the DHS/FEMA Ohio EMA All-Hazards Incident Management Team Logistics Section Chief course.

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Again, special thanks to FEMA USAR Ohio Task Force-1 for hosting this week.

Solid morning as we talked about how the LSC frequently meets with the PSC well before much of the action happens.

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In fact, it is likely that the LSC is at least 5 steps ahead of the OSC – to plan to supply and equip our tactical operations with the stuff they need.

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Ohio EMA LSC Phil Johnson brief the class on how county agencies interact with our activated State EOC focusing in on resource ordering and task assignments.

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Like good Logistics Section Chiefs, we debated the merits of pre-staging resources before they are needed for faster deployments and anticipating needs (leaning in).

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Lots of discussion on EMAC and the success that the State of Ohio had with 2016 events including the 2016 Republican National Convention which was classified as a NSSE.

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We discussed demobilization plans as well as factors that could contribute to delayed demob. As always, we emphasize on the safe return of all crews from disaster deployment.

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At the end of the day, we were able to tour the DHS/FEMA USAR OH-TF-1 facility.

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Amazing stuff!

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Logistics plays a HUGE part of daily operations as they have thousands and thousands of pieces of deployable items needed for disaster operations.

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So as you can see, LSCs have an insurmountable task of keeping order during non-disaster times.

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For those in the military and are truly Logistics pees, I believe this is an amazing piece of equipment.

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If you are a pro, and like to sling load your stuff, you should consider getting a few.

Special thanks to all the pros from DHS/FEMA Ohio USAR Task Force-1.

Yes it's Friday. That is an Aloha Shirt.

Yes it’s Friday. Look closely. That is an Aloha Shirt.

Superb ending of class with participants from numerous states on this #AlohaFriday!

Proud to serve my country and train other IMT LSCs from across this great nation.

@rusnivek

 

Day-3 of the AH IMT LSC course today feat #FDUL #MED #COML

Great start to Day-3 of our FEMA All-Hazards Incident Management Team Logistics Section Chief course.

Welcoming the class this morning was Ohio Task Force-1 Team Leader Evan Schumann.


Over the years, Ohio Task Force-1 has been deployed to numerous national disasters.


You know me, I’m always proud of our entire state.

Their involvement with many others USAR teams across the country is critical in keeping the nation safe.


Today’s topics to includes:

  • Food Unit Leader (FDUL)
  • Medical Unit (MED)
  • Communications Unit (COML)

Key positions in the Service Branch under the Logistics Section Chief (LSC). 

(That was your quick ICS online lesson for today. Reference your ICS Form 207 for more info)

Numerous agencies contributing great info today. Sharing of ideas are key.


Additionally, we have several Tennessee Task Force Team members in our class. Great disaster experience and sharing of ideas for any LSC.


DYK: Tennessee Task Force-1 is the most frequently deployed FEMA USAR Team in the nation.

Lots of discussion on resources and what kinds of equipment will be needed to support the BOO (Base Of Operations) as well as staging areas and keep personnel adequately fed.

Feeding Incident Management Teams seems like an easy task, but when you really look at providing healthy options and meeting all dietary options isn’t as easy as you think.


Bonus points for staying within budgets and caloric intake too.

And then allocating the resources neeeded to maintain and regulate these supplies are key piece in any disaster response.

This disaster response stuff ain’t easy!


Looking forward to Thursday’s class which will include deployable resources and equipment. What logistician doesn’t love that kind of stuff!?!?!


Reporting live from the home of Ohio Task Force-1…

@rusnivek

This week it’s all about Logistics! #LSC #IMT 

This week, I head the FEMA EMI course: All-Hazards Incident Management Team (IMT) Logistics Section Chief (LSC) Course.

We happen to be teaching at the home of one of my favorite Ohio teams: FEMA USAR Ohio Task Force-1.

Obviously, their strategic home Wright Patterson Air Force Base is key in rapid deployments for any national disaster or emergency.

Looking forward to making sure we cram as much stuff into this course because,

LOGISTICS MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND

Suit up and see you in class this week!

@rusnivek

#AlohaFriday for paperwork and meetings at OhioEMA

On this #AlohaFriday – I report to the OEMA mother ship!

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I had to take care of some TPSReports for ICS classes. Talked about upcoming October/November schedules with both SAAs on a few ICS-300 and ICS-400 about registration issues as well as my packed IMT class for FEMA’s USAR Ohio Task Force-1 (OH-TF-1).

I was fortunate to visit with good friends Jerry and Sima. Hilarious!

Lots of discussion on the RNC as well as National Preparedness Month.

And yes, all done with the Aloha Shirt on.

@rusnivek